Autumn Falk Naturopath

25/08/2026

✨ Come find me at the Northland Holistic Expo! ✨

I'll have a Shiatsu stall at this seasons Northland Holistic Expo in Kerikeri - and I'm running a 1-hour Shiatsu workshop on Saturday 29 August, morning, where you can experience this ancient Japanese bodywork for yourself and understand a bit more about how it works.

Our bodies love touch, and with Shiatsu the effects are immediate - you feel it working right there on the mat. If you've ever been curious about Shiatsu but never quite known what it involves, this is a lovely, low-pressure way to try it.

Kingston House, 123 Hone Heke Road, Kerikeri
From 9am Sat 29th until 4pm Sun 30th August 2026
Free entry, free parking
🎤 Interactive talks all weekend

Come and say hi, have a chat, and feel the difference touch can make.

See you there!
Autumn

29/07/2026

Why B Vitamins Matter for Your Thyroid

Your thyroid gland makes thyroid hormone mostly as T4 - a fairly inactive storage form. Before your body can actually use it, T4 has to be converted into T3, the active form your cells respond to. That conversion step is where B vitamins come in.

B2 (Riboflavin) & B3 (Niacin) – needed to support the enzymes that drive T4-to-T3 conversion in the liver and tissues.

B6 – helps regulate the pituitary signals (TSH) that tell your thyroid how much hormone to make in the first place.

B12 – low levels are common in people with thyroid conditions (especially autoimmune ones like Hashimoto's), and deficiency can worsen fatigue, brain fog, and low mood — symptoms that already overlap heavily with low thyroid.

Folate (B9) – works alongside B12 in methylation pathways, which also influence hormone metabolism and energy production.

Here's the thing: you can have "normal" thyroid blood tests and still feel exhausted, foggy, and flat - if the conversion step isn't working well. B vitamins are one piece of that puzzle (alongside selenium, zinc, iron, and stress/cortisol balance).

✨ Food sources: leafy greens, eggs, legumes, nutritional yeast, meat, and fish.

If you're ticking boxes on thyroid symptoms despite "normal" labs, it might be worth looking beyond TSH alone.

I see quite a few people with Thyroid issues and helping them to correct those means putting the puzzle slowly together.

22/07/2026

Well worth looking into.

" The First teacher of Rongoā Māori is the ngahere, te Wao Nui a Tāne, the forest itself. I remember well the answer I was given from koroua and kuia in Wanganui in response to my constant questions about the medicinal used of various plants. "E Pa, why do you keep asking us

09/07/2026

I recently came across the book Mother Hunger after listening to Mel Robbins interview its author, Kelly McDaniel, and I felt called to share it.

One message really stayed with me:

"Let's stop blaming ourselves for the pain we didn't cause."

The book explores the concept of mother hunger - the deep longing that can develop when, as children, we didn't receive enough nurturing, protection, or emotional attunement from our mother or primary caregiver. This isn't about blame. Many mothers simply gave what they themselves had available.

Kelly describes this as a hidden grief - one that can quietly shape our nervous system, our relationships, our sense of worth, and even the way we seek comfort, connection, and belonging throughout life. She explains that this early wound can leave us with a lifelong craving to be mothered, cared for, and truly seen.

Our earliest experiences help shape how safe our nervous system feels in the world. When those needs aren't consistently met, our bodies may stay in patterns of hypervigilance, people-pleasing, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty trusting others. These are often protective responses, not personal failures.

One of the most important reminders from this work is that mother hunger is gender-neutral. It can affect anyone, regardless of gender, because every child has fundamental needs for love, safety, and attunement.

As a naturopath and Shiatsu practitioner, I'm continually reminded that our bodies hold our stories. Understanding our origins - where we come from and how our experiences have shaped us - can be an important step towards healing. When we understand our patterns with compassion instead of judgment, we create space for change.

If this topic resonates with you, I highly recommend listening to the conversation between Mel Robbins and Kelly McDaniel
https://youtu.be/Li5PCbqEaEw?si=BfWKrFTbDEmXs1Zw or reading Mother Hunger.
It may help you understand yourself—or someone you love—with greater kindness.

Have you come across the idea of "mother hunger" before? I'd love to hear your reflections. 💚

07/07/2026

During a Shiatsu treatment, I often notice an area of tension or tenderness around the ileocecal valve, located in the lower right abdomen where the small intestine (the ileum) meets the large intestine (the caecum).
The ileocecal valve acts as a one-way gateway, helping regulate the movement of digested food from the small intestine into the large intestine while helping to prevent material from flowing back into the small intestine.

When this area feels tight or sensitive to gentle pressure, I may pause and hold the point using comfortable, sustained contact. By finding the most receptive angle and encouraging the client to breathe slowly and deeply into the area, the tissues often begin to soften and relax. Clients frequently report a sense of release, greater comfort, or reduced tension in the abdomen.

From a Shiatsu perspective, this gentle approach supports the body's natural ability to relax and restore balance. While Shiatsu is not intended to treat structural disorders of the ileocecal valve, releasing tension in the surrounding tissues may help improve comfort, encourage body awareness, and support healthy digestive function as part of a holistic treatment.

Getting work done on your Hara (Abdomen) is an important part in Shiatsu and can help restore well-being through this specific belly attention alone.

06/07/2026

Did you know?

Around 70–80% of the body's immune cells are associated with the gut, making digestive health an important part of overall wellbeing.

A diverse, healthy gut microbiome helps educate and regulate the immune system, supports the intestinal barrier, and may improve resilience against infections.

Eating plenty of fibre-rich vegetables, fermented foods (if tolerated), and a varied plant-based diet can help nourish these beneficial microbes.

This is why we as naturopaths and medical herbalists often begin with the digestive system. By supporting healthy digestion, bowel regularity, nutrient absorption, and a balanced gut microbiome, we aim to strengthen the foundations of health and help the body function at its best.

02/07/2026

🌿 Now seeing clients — in person & online!

I'm currently taking on new clients - in person in Kerikeri, Northland, and online wherever you are.

I'm a Naturopath and Medical Herbalist (practising since 2009), passionate about helping with:

Digestive issues
Microbiome support
Hormones
Neurotransmitters
Methylation
Autoimmune conditions
Heart health

For online consults, I'll send a questionnaire beforehand - and it helps to have a copy of any recent bloods and a tongue photo on hand too.
Not sure if it's a good fit?
Book a free complimentary call through my website:
autumn-falk-naturopath.co.nz
or DM me to chat.

🙋Tag a friend who needs this!

01/07/2026

Your Liver: The Unsung Hero of Menopause 🌿

Did you know your liver is working overtime through menopause - with or without HRT?

Every hormone your body makes (or that you take) passes through the liver to be processed and cleared. As oestrogen declines naturally in menopause, liver fat metabolism shifts too - which is part of why cholesterol and liver fat markers often creep up around this time, regardless of HRT.
And if you are on HRT, the route matters: oral oestrogen takes a "first pass" through the liver before reaching your bloodstream, while transdermal (patches, gels, creams) bypasses this step - a key reason why some women are better suited to one form over another.
Your liver doesn't just detox - it's central to how you experience this whole transition. Supporting it well is one of the most overlooked pieces of the menopause puzzle.

Want to know what your liver needs right now?
Book a consult and let's find out. 🌿

01/07/2026

We can support our organs and therefore wellbeing so easily with exercises which help them directly.

While you do these suggested excerises...which one do you feel makes the most difference?

In Shiatsu we tune into what exercise are the hardest to do (which relates to excess energy in those areas) or what exercise is the easiest to do (which relates to the area which needs nurturing).

Enjoy your body, support it and feel it.

27/06/2026

Last-Minute Shiatsu Appointment Available – Monday 29 June in OREWA, Auckland

Due to a last-minute cancellation, I have one 90-minute Shiatsu appointments available tomorrow in Red Beach:

12:30 pm

What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing Japanese bodywork therapy that helps restore balance, ease tension, reduce stress, improve circulation, and support your body's natural healing processes.

✨ Fully clothed
✨ Gentle finger pressure, stretches and joint mobilisations
✨ Suitable for people feeling stressed, tired, sore, or simply needing time to recharge

90-minute treatment: $130

If you've been meaning to prioritise your wellbeing, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Autumn Falk
027 293 1430

🌿 Learn more about me here:
https://autumn-falk-naturopath.co.nz/

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who may benefit. 💚